The difference between an ATO Tax Account and Integrated Tax Account

The difference between an ATO Tax Account and Integrated Tax Account

As you may already know, the ATO offers different accounts for their clients. Two in particular are often confused with one another — an ATO Tax Account and an Integrated Client Account. As an accounting firm, we’re here to clear the air, and clearly explain the differences in each. 


What does ICA stand for ATO?


Integrated Client Account. 


An Integrated Client Account (ICA) is an account for taxes other than income tax, such as GST and PAYG. The ICA account is also called the activity statement or integrated client account, depending on the system you're using with the ATO. If you click on the activity statement account link, you will see a statement of account.


ATO Tax Account.


An ATO Tax Account (ATOTA) deals with the preparations of tax returns and tax payments. 


An ATO Tax Account 


What is it? 


Tax accounting is a niche type of accounting that deals with the preparations of tax returns and tax payments. Tax accounting is used by individuals and businesses and is done through the ATO, using an Income Tax Account (ITA). 


Accessing your ATOTA. 


You can access your ITA online through myGov, once your myGov account is linked with the ATO. It’s the easiest way to check your outstanding balance (if any) and see when your payment is due. 


An Integrated Client Account 


What is it? 


An Integrated Client Account (ICA) is an account for taxes other than income tax. It also shows your business’s lodgment behaviour, such as a payment history to the ATO and any outstanding debts. One of the reasons the ATO needs this to help lenders, and business owners, make informed and fair lending decisions. 

You’ll also need this if you have non-salary income, pay GST, and/or employ staff and pay pay-as-you-go withholding. The full list includes: 


  • goods and services tax (GST) 
  • goods and services tax instalments 
  • pay as you go income tax withholding (PAYGW) 
  • pay as you go income tax instalments (PAYGI) 
  • fringe benefits tax (FBT) instalments 
  • luxury car tax (LCT) 
  • wine equalisation tax (WET) 
  • fuel tax credit (FTC) 
  • deferred company instalments 
  • franking deficit tax and over franking tax for 2003 and future income years 
  • petroleum rent resource tax (PRRT) 
  • sales tax credits 

 

More on pay-as-you-go instalments. 


One component of your ICA is PAYGI — payment of tax in advance for the current year, based on the tax payable in the last tax return lodged. Rather than a large lump sum payable on your tax return, you pay smaller quarterly installments. The ATO has designed this to help you avoid a huge bill at the end of the financial year, and help make the payments more manageable. 

You can see this when looking at your ICA. 

 

Accessing your ICA.

 

You can see all your ICA information using your myGovID — this is just for businesses and different to myGov. Your myGovID must be linked to your business by connecting it with your ABN (using these steps). Once the myGovID has been linked to the ABN, you can grant access to others — such as tax agents and accountants like ourselves — by using the Relationship Authorisation Manager. Here are the details


Want to go deeper? 


Seeing as we’re edging closer to tax time, it’s only fitting that you’d want to know more about your ICA and ITA. We can explain the differences and applications in more detail when you engage one of our services. Contact us to get started



Need help with your accounting?

Find Out What We Do
June 12, 2025
June is zooming by! Here’s another handy checklist for business owners—let’s get you sorted for EOFY and tick off those to-dos.
June 12, 2025
EOFY is almost here. Are you ready? Now’s the time to get your finances in order and maximise your tax return. Our latest guide covers top tax deductions, super contributions & co-contributions, SMSF must-dos, PAYG instalment tips and a 30 June checklist.
June 12, 2025
Whether you're a first-time landlord or managing multiple properties, understanding what you can claim at tax time can make a big difference to your bottom line. In our latest blog, we break down the most common (and often overlooked) deductions.
May 12, 2025
Buying and selling property rarely lines up perfectly. The logistics of it all can be incredibly stressful. If you’ve found the perfect next home but haven’t sold your current one yet, a bridging loan can make your move easier, without having to wait on your current property sale.  What is a bridging loan? A bridging loan is a short-term loan that gives you the funds to buy a new property before your current property has sold. It’s designed to bridge the gap between buying and selling. These loans are generally interest-only and are typically offered for up to 12 months, giving you time to sell and settle on your current home while already owning the next one. When would I need a bridging loan? You might consider bridging finance if: You’ve found your next home but haven’t yet sold your current one. You want to avoid renting or moving twice between sales. You want more time to prepare your home for market to get the best sale price. You're building a new home while still living in your existing one. How does it work? Peak Debt: The lender combines your current mortgage, the cost of the new property (including stamp duty and legal fees), and any interest (if it’s being capitalised). This total is known as your Peak Debt. Interest Only: During the bridging period, you’ll typically pay interest only — or the interest may be capitalised (meaning it’s added to your loan rather than paid upfront). Sell Your Property: Once you sell your existing home, the sale proceeds are used to reduce your Peak Debt. End Debt: The remaining balance becomes your End Debt, which then continues as a standard mortgage. An example of a bridging loan. Your current home loan = $200,000 New home = $800,000 Total bridging loan (Peak Debt) = $1,000,000 After selling your home for $600,000, that amount is used to pay down your loan Remaining loan (End Debt) = $400,000 Things to consider. Like any major financial decision, it’s important to understand all the moving parts before you commit. Time pressure: You typically have 6–12 months to sell. If you don’t sell in time, the lender may step in to sell the property and/or charge default interest. This is an extra interest rate that a lender charges when you fail to meet your loan obligations — in this case, not selling your property within the agreed timeframe. Interest costs: If interest is capitalised, it means you're not making repayments during the loan period, so the interest gets added to the loan balance instead of being paid separately. This means your loan grows each month. Making even small repayments can help keep this under control. Equity & serviceability: Lenders will assess how much equity you have and whether you can manage the loan during the bridging period. Loan-to-value ratio: If your End Debt ends up being more than 80% of the new property’s value, you may have to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Existing loan setup: If your current lender doesn’t offer bridging loans, refinancing may be required — sometimes triggering break fees if your existing loan is fixed. This means you may have to pay a penalty if you end a fixed-rate home loan early (before the agreed term is up). Is a bridging loan right for you? That’s the big question. Bridging finance can offer flexibility and peace of mind, helping you move forward with confidence rather than being held back by uncertain sale timing. But it’s not without risk or cost — so it’s vital to understand the structure, timeframe, and repayment expectations. If you’re considering your next property move and want tailored advice on whether bridging finance suits your situation, talk to the team at Ascent Property Co. or Ascent Accountants. We can also put you in touch with finance brokers to discuss what is best for you.
May 12, 2025
That work perk might be costing you more than you think… Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) is charged at a whopping 47% — the same as the top personal tax rate. That means lower salary or fewer benefits. So, while salary packaging can save tax, in many cases it ends up costing you more.
May 12, 2025
If you’re expecting a higher income this financial year, now is the time to act. We’ve put together 9 Smart Tax Planning Tips that could save you thousands — but they only work before 30 June.
More Posts